A residential college at the University of Sydney – St Paul’s College – has expelled six students and suspended 21 others following a bullying incident last week.
A group of students at St Paul’s conducted a fake court “trial” that reportedly involved gagging a student with a sex toy and verbally abusing him.
The College said it is “shocked and deeply disappointed” at the behaviour.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare told TDA more needs to be done “to tackle sexual violence in our universities”.
St Paul’s
St Paul’s is one of several residential colleges at the University of Sydney. It’s home to roughly 300 students.
The College was all-male until last year, when it started allowing female residents.
It’s the oldest residential college in Australia. Two former Prime Ministers attended St Paul’s.
The “mock trial”
On Monday, the Sydney Morning Herald revealed there had been a serious bullying incident at the College last week.
On Tuesday, Nine-owned radio station 2GB reported a group of second-year male students held a fake court “trial”, where another student was put on the stand.
The student who “lost” the trial was reportedly gagged with a sex toy and verbally abused.
CCTV footage showed who was present at the “trial”.
The College expelled six people who were directly involved. 21 bystanders were suspended.
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St Paul’s warden Dr Ed Loane oversees day-to-day matters at the college. In a statement to TDA, he said: “The college has been shocked and deeply disappointed that some of our students engaged in serious bullying of another student within their friendship group.”
Dr Loane said the college would “review and strengthen” training to deal with bullying and harassment.
USyd response
University of Sydney Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Education Professor Joanne Wright told TDA she is “shocked and deeply disappointed” by the group of students’ conduct.
“Any form of bullying or harassment is absolutely unacceptable and we support the disciplinary action the College has taken”.
Professor Wright said the University had reached out to the College to obtain further facts and ensure it’s responding appropriately to student misconduct.
Government
told TDA the hazing ritual reports are “sickening”.
“Not enough has been done to tackle sexual violence in our universities and residential colleges and for too long students haven’t been heard.”
The Federal Government is expected to roll out a new student complaints body – the National Student Ombudsman – by February. It will be tasked with handling uni students’ complaints of sexual harassment, assault, and violence.
Broderick review
In 2018, former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick
She found a culture of widespread sexism, sexual harassment, and bullying at the residential campus, including hazing — intense and often demeaning initiation rituals.
The report included stories of first-year students being forced to eat sheep hearts, and drink a mixture of goon and raw eggs. It’s since been taken down from St Paul’s website.
